Dental Care

According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have oral disease by the age of 3. It is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets. Common signs of oral disease include tartar buildup, red and swollen gums, bad breath, changes in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face and generalized depression.

A veterinarian should evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. We recommend this because bacteria and food debris accumulates around a pet’s teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay results in irreversible periodontal disease and even tooth loss.

There are other reasons why you should pay close attention to your pet’s dental health. Dental disease can affect other organs in the body: bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream and may cause serious kidney infections, liver disease, lung disease, and heart valve disease. Oral disease can also indicate that another disease process is occurring elsewhere in a pet’s body. A thorough physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if this is the case.

Central Hospital For Animals cares about the oral health of your pet and offers a wide range of oral health procedures for it’s veterinary patient. All dental procedures begin with a thorough oral examination, complete dental charting of all teeth and oral lesions. We use modern state-of-the-art equipment to perform a complete prophylaxis (scaling and cleaning) for your pet. The dental cleaning will be administered by a veterinary technician and monitored by your veterinarian. After the cleaning, a fluoride foam is applied to your pet’s teeth and then washed with a chlorhexidine oral hygiene rinse. This rinse is alcohol free, and will leave your pet with clean teeth and fresh breath, while providing soothing, temporary relief of minor gum irritation. Each pet will go home with a bag or chlorhexidine dental chews to use as a treat over the next month.

Call us today to schedule a FREE Dental Examination for your pet and get them started on a path to better health!